Town Work Play

Inspection of Town Work Play Nursery Building, The Abbey School, London Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8RZ

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children and their families line up excitedly to arrive at this welcoming setting. Older children settle quickly, finding their friends to hunt for bugs outside. They delight in recording the insects they have found, happily sharing with staff that they are looking for a centipede next. Staff have high expectations for children. They praise and encourage positive attitudes to learning. For example, children's interest in baking is expanded on to include making play dough with different ingredients. Staff extend children's language skills well. Children proudly exclaim that they have 'zested' the lemons and go on to describe these as sour.

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The provision is good

Children benefit from a range of activities and opportunities that support their learning and development effectively. For example, staff have successfully prioritised addressing gaps in learning that are a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have reorganised lunchtimes to ensure that children develop key communication and social skills, and they have developed the garden to support children's physical skills. Children engage and concentrate for a long time when planting seeds. They talk animatedly about what will grow. Leaders and managers are committed to ensuring that children make good progress. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are well supported by staff, who teach them to use sign language to communicate. Children become confident communicators.

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need to do better?

n Leaders and managers are passionate about their work. They access effective support from the local authority and nearby settings to support continued improvements. For example, they have developed a quiet space for children. They use the expertise of colleagues at their other setting to support staff's knowledge and skills. Leaders and managers are committed to ensuring they maintain their high-quality workforce. n Parents talk highly of the progress their children have made, particularly in their speech, confidence and social skills. Parents talk about the support they have received to help their children with reading and behaviour at home. Parents of children with SEND say they have made good progress and highlight the one-to- one support they receive. All parents appreciate the 'golden moments' when they celebrate their children's achievements. n Staff successfully provide a range of activities and opportunities based on

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need to do better?

children's interests. For example, older children enjoy exploring different fruits with their friends, talking about where they come from. Babies gravitate towards a musical activity, where they are supported by staff to explore sensory toys together. However, staff working with the youngest children do not always know how to match activities as precisely as possible to children's next steps in

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need to do better?

27 July 2023 learning. n Leaders and managers have worked hard to develop the setting and create a language-rich environment. For example, children enjoy joining in with rhymes and songs. They immediately respond when the tidy-up song is sung. Children gather outside to explore books on the reading bench, chatting together about books they enjoy. These experiences support their communication and language skills, and they encourage the children to develop a love of reading. n Staff support children's transition to school well. They have introduced a dressing-up area, with different uniforms and display posters of the schools children will go to. Older children talk excitedly about visits to their new schools and what they will learn. This helps children get ready for the next stage of their education journey. n Staff say they really love working at the setting and feel well supported by the leaders and managers. They talk highly of the focus on their well-being. For

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need to do better?

example, they have access to counselling and other services to help them personally. Staff benefit from development days and team meetings, which helps to enhance and update their skills and knowledge. n Children behave well as a result of the praise and encouragement they receive from staff. For example, they help their friends and share their toys. Older children help to set up tables for lunchtime. However, at times, staff do not recognise when children would benefit from encouragement to carry out tasks for themselves. This does not fully support children to develop their independence skills. n Leaders and managers support children's understanding of healthy eating effectively. They have reflected on their practice and, as a result, have invested in a chef to cook a range of nutritious meals. Children excitedly await their lunch, talking about eating their peas and looking forward to their fruit pudding.

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need to do better?

Children who were previously reluctant eaters now sit and eat a balanced lunch.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Leaders and managers have effective oversight of safeguarding arrangements and understand their roles and responsibilities well. They ensure that all staff have appropriate safeguarding training so that they can identify signs and symptoms of abuse. Staff know where to go for information, advice and guidance if they have concerns about children. They know what to do if they have concerns about a colleague or if an allegation was made against them. Leaders and managers have effective procedures in place for the recruitment, vetting and ongoing suitability of staff.

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should:

27 July 2023 n support staff to develop their knowledge and skills further to help them plan and match activities more precisely to the needs of the youngest children n support staff to recognise and maximise opportunities for children to carry out tasks for themselves, capability allowing, to support their independence skills.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2641260 Local authority Kent Inspection number 10295736 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 45 Number of children on roll 80 Name of registered person Town Work Play Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01795716056 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Town Work Play registered in 2021. It operates from The Abbey School, in Faversham, Kent. The nursery is open from 7.30am to 6pm, each weekday, throughout the year, with a core session from 8am to 5pm. The setting employs 15 members of staff, of whom 11 hold relevant early years qualifications. The nursery accepts funding for two-, three- and four-year-old children.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The deputy manager, manager and inspector completed a learning walk together of all areas of the nursery and discussed the early years curriculum. n The inspector spoke to children, to find out about their time at the setting. n The inspector talked to staff at appropriate times during the inspection and took account of their views. n The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning. n The inspector spoke to several parents during the inspection and took account of their views. n The manager and the inspector carried out a joint observation during lunchtime. n The inspector looked at relevant documentation and reviewed evidence of the

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Inspection activities

suitability of staff working in the nursery.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

27 July 2023 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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